Presumptive Democrat Presidential nominee Joe Biden announced his pick for a running mate Tuesday afternoon, choosing California U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, a former primary rival.
Harris, 55, is the first black woman chosen to run for the vice presidential spot on a major party ticket.
The California Senator has seen some support from Mississippi donors in past for her political endeavors dating back to her U.S. Senate campaign fundraising in 2015. According to the Federal Election Commission, a variety of individual donors ranging from state employees to trial lawyers to college professors have contributed over $19,000 to Harris over the years, including Meridian Mayor Percy Bland.
Harris campaigned in-state for Mississippi Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Mike Espy in 2018’s special election.
Espy celebrated the Harris announcement in a tweet.
“Congratulations to my friend and fellow Howard University alumnus, Kamala Harris, who will join the Democratic ticket as our candidate for Vice President,” Espy wrote. “I know Kamala will be a capable, courageous leader for all Americans. I look forward to voting for her and Joe Biden in just 84 days.”
Congratulations to my friend and fellow @HowardU alumnus, @KamalaHarris, who will join the Democratic ticket as our candidate for Vice President!
I know Kamala will be a capable, courageous leader for all Americans. I look forward to voting for her and @JoeBiden in just 84 days. pic.twitter.com/37VOqqxTMx
— Mike Espy (@MikeEspyMS) August 11, 2020
Espy’s opponent in November’s General Election is Republican U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith. Her campaign issued a statement following the Harris selection saying Biden’s choice leaves much to be excited about for Mississippians.
“Common sense Mississippi voters will not find much to be excited about in a far-left California attorney who supports defunding police departments and other socialist policies,” said Justin Brasell, Hyde-Smith campaign spokesman. “While Joe Biden continues to hide in his basement, Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith will keep working with President Trump and Vice President Pence to get things done for Mississippi and the nation.”
Mississippi Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS02) is chairing the Democratic National Convention that begins next week. He tweeted his approval of Harris, saying it is the best team to defeat President Donald Trump.
“I support Former Vice-President Joe Biden’s pick for his running mate,” Thompson wrote. “We have the best team to defeat Trump in November. Congratulations, Sen. Kamala Harris!”
https://twitter.com/BennieGThompson/status/1293289934711816196?s=20
The Mississippi Democratic Party applauded the choice of Harris in a tweet but did not respond to a request for a statement on the Vice President nominee.
The MS Democratic Party applauds VP @JoeBiden regarding his choice of running mate – Sen. @KamalaHarris! 👏🎊👏🎉👏
We look forward to electing President Biden and Vice President Harris into office.#BidenVP #YesWeCanAgain https://t.co/Ug38qnPozg
— MS Democratic Party (@msdemocrats) August 11, 2020
Mississippi Republican Party Chairman Lucien Smith found the selection lacking, calling the Democrat pairing “the most radically leftist ticket in American history.”
“Today’s choice of Kamala Harris confirms what we’ve long known: this year the Democratic Party will offer voters the most radically leftist ticket in American history,” Smith said. “A ticket virtually devoid of any private sector experience and proud of it, the Biden-Harris team would seek to further tax and regulate America’s private sector into a cold Marxist grave. Harris will advance the abortion-on-demand, defund-the-police, and apologize-to-our-enemies-abroad extremism that is the modern Democratic Party.”
Trump Campaign Senior Advisor Katrina Pierson issued the following statement on behalf of the campaign upon Harris’ announcement:
“Not long ago, Kamala Harris called Joe Biden a racist and asked for an apology she never received. Clearly, Phony Kamala will abandon her own morals, as well as try to bury her record as a prosecutor, in order to appease the anti-police extremists controlling the Democrat Party. In her failed attempt at running for president, Kamala Harris gleefully embraced the left’s radical manifesto, calling for trillions of dollars in new taxes and backing Bernie Sanders’ government takeover of healthcare. She is proof that Joe Biden is an empty shell being filled with the extreme agenda of the radicals on the left.
“Joe Biden is no moderate, and with Harris as his ‘political living will,’ he is surrendering control of our nation to the radical mob with promises to raise taxes, cut police funding, kill energy jobs, open our borders, and appease socialist dictators. At the ballot box, Americans will resoundingly reject the abysmal failures of Biden-Harris in favor of the America First strength of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.”
The Trump Campaign released its first ad against the Harris VP selection soon after the announcement by Biden. President Trump tweeted the ad below.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 11, 2020
Frank Corder
